Grade 6 Word Definitions
Learn the meanings, pronunciations, and usage examples for 50 spelling words.
✓ 50 of 50 words have complete definitions
abrupt
/aˈbɹʌpt/nouneasyDefinition:
Something which is abrupt; an abyss.
adequate
verbmediumDefinition:
To equalize; to make adequate.
apparent
/əˈpæ.ɹənt/adjectivechallengingDefinition:
Capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to the eye, eyely; within sight or view.
blizzard
/ˈblɪ.zəd/nouneasyDefinition:
A large snowstorm accompanied by strong winds and greatly reduced visibility caused by blowing snow.
boundary
nounmediumDefinition:
The dividing line or location between two areas.
bureau
/ˈbjʊɹ.oʊ/nounchallengingDefinition:
An administrative unit of government; office.
cancel
/ˈkænsl̩/nouneasyDefinition:
A cancellation (US); (nonstandard in some kinds of English).
ceremony
/ˈsɛɹɪməni/nounmediumDefinition:
A ritual, with religious or cultural significance.
conscious
/ˈkɒn.ʃəs/nounchallengingDefinition:
The part of the mind that is aware of itself; the consciousness.
deceive
/dɪˈsiːv/verbeasyDefinition:
To trick or mislead.
democracy
/dɪˈmɒkɹəsi/nounmediumDefinition:
Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).
eager
/ˈiːɡə/adjectiveeasyDefinition:
Sharp; sour; acid.
efficient
/əˈfɪʃənt/nounmediumDefinition:
A cause; something that causes an effect
exaggerate
/ɛɡˈzæ.dʒə.ɹeɪt/verbchallengingDefinition:
To overstate, to describe more than is fact.
Example:
“He said he'd slept with hundreds of girls, but I know he's exaggerating. The real number is about ten.”
fatigue
/fəˈtiːɡ/nouneasyDefinition:
A weariness caused by exertion; exhaustion.
fluorescent
/ˌflʊəˈɹɛsənt/nounchallengingDefinition:
A fluorescent light.
Example:
“The fluorescents hummed day and night.”
frequency
/ˈfɹiːkwənsi/nounmediumDefinition:
The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.
Example:
“The frequency of bus service has been improved from one every 15 to one every 12 minutes.”
gauge
/ˈɡeɪdʒ/nounchallengingDefinition:
A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
glimpse
/ɡlɪmps/nouneasyDefinition:
A brief look, glance, or peek.
Example:
“I only got a glimpse of the car, so I can tell you the colour but not the registration number.”
guardian
/ˈɡɑːdɪən/nounmediumDefinition:
Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
hostile
/ˈhɒstaɪl/nouneasyDefinition:
(chiefly in the plural) An enemy.
humidity
/hjuːˈmɪdɪti/nounmediumDefinition:
Dampness, especially that of the air.
immune
nouneasyDefinition:
A person who is not susceptible to infection by a particular disease
influence
/ˈɪn.flu.əns/nounmediumDefinition:
The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.
Example:
“I have absolutely no influence over him.”
javelin
/ˈdʒævlɪn/nounmediumDefinition:
A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
kilometer
/kɪˈlɒmɪtə/nounmediumDefinition:
(official BIPM spelling, Australian, New Zealand, Irish, Indian and South African spelling) An SI unit of length equal to 103 metres. Symbol: km
legend
/ˈlɛdʒ.ənd/nouneasyDefinition:
An unrealistic story depicting past events.
license
/ˈlaɪsəns/nounchallengingDefinition:
A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.
literature
/ˈlɪ.tə.ɹɪ.tʃə(ɹ)/nounmediumDefinition:
The body of all written works.
maintenance
/ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/nounchallengingDefinition:
Actions performed to keep some machine or system functioning or in service.
mammal
/ˈmæməl/nouneasyDefinition:
An animal of the class Mammalia, characterized by being warm-blooded, having hair and feeding milk to its young.
mechanic
/məˈkænɪk/nounmediumDefinition:
A manual worker; a labourer or artisan.
necessary
NES-uh-ser-eeadjectivemediumDefinition:
Needed in order for something to happen.
novice
/ˈnɒvɪs/nouneasyDefinition:
A beginner; one who is not very familiar or experienced in a particular subject.
Example:
“I'm only a novice at coding, and my programs frequently have bugs that more experienced programmers would avoid.”
obstacle
/ˈɒbstəkl̩/nounmediumDefinition:
Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress
Example:
“A big obstacle to understanding the manual was that it had been poorly translated from the Japanese.”
obtain
/əbˈteɪn/verbeasyDefinition:
To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
pledge
/plɛdʒ/nouneasyDefinition:
A solemn promise to do something.
pneumonia
/nuˈmoʊniə/nounchallengingDefinition:
An acute or chronic inflammation of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms, or sometimes by physical or chemical irritants.
pollution
/pəˈl(j)uːʃn̩/nounmediumDefinition:
The desecration of something holy or sacred; defilement, profanation.
quiver
/ˈkwɪvəɹ/nouneasyDefinition:
A container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those fired from a bow, crossbow or blowgun.
resident
/ˈɹɛzɪd(ə)nt/nouneasyDefinition:
A person, animal or plant living at a certain location or in a certain area.
Example:
“The tiger lily is a resident of Asia.”
resource
/ɹɪˈsɔɹs/nounmediumDefinition:
Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel.
sincere
/sɪnˈsɪə(ɹ)/adjectivemediumDefinition:
Genuine; meaning what one says or does; heartfelt.
Example:
“I believe he is sincere in his offer to help.”
souvenir
/ˌsuːvəˈnɪə(ɹ)/nounchallengingDefinition:
An item of sentimental value, to remember an event or location.
sturdy
/ˈstɜːdi/nouneasyDefinition:
A disease in sheep and cattle, caused by a tapeworm and marked by great nervousness or by dullness and stupor.
tolerate
/ˈtɒl.ə.ɹeɪt/verbmediumDefinition:
To accept hardship without objection.
Example:
“I can tolerate working on Saturdays, but not on Sundays.”
tremble
/ˈtɹɛmbl̩/nouneasyDefinition:
A shake, quiver, or vibration.
urgent
/ˈɜːdʒənt/adjectiveeasyDefinition:
Requiring immediate attention.
Example:
“An urgent appeal was sent out for assistance.”
vertical
/ˈvɜːtɪkəl/nounmediumDefinition:
A vertex or zenith.
wisdom
/ˈwɪzdəm/nouneasyDefinition:
An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.
Showing all 50 words
Grade 6 words at a glance
Greek and Latin roots you can take apart, alongside French loan words you cannot.
| Grade | Typical age | Words | Easy | Medium | Challenging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 6–7 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 2 | 7–8 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 3 | 8–9 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 4 | 9–10 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 5 | 10–11 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 6 | 11–12 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 7 | 12–13 | 50 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Grade 8 | 13–14 | 100 | 40 | 40 | 20 |
| High School | 14–18 | 100 | 40 | 40 | 20 |
Getting the most out of a definition
- Read the meaning before you spell. A word you understand is far easier to remember than a string of letters.
- Say it aloud. Most misspellings come from a sound the speller never heard clearly in the first place.
- Cover it and write it. Recall is the skill a bee tests; recognition is not.
- Use it in a sentence about your own day. Words attached to something real stay put.
Why Learn Word Definitions?
Understanding word meanings enhances spelling skills and vocabulary development.
Improved Comprehension
Knowing what words mean helps you understand what you read and hear. This deeper comprehension improves overall language skills.
Better Spelling
Understanding a word's meaning and context makes it easier to remember its spelling, especially for words with similar sounds but different meanings.
Enhanced Writing
A rich vocabulary allows you to express your ideas more precisely and effectively in writing, making your communication more powerful.
Where to go from a definition
Knowing what a word means is half of it. These turn the meaning into recall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Grade 6 spelling bee words?
Grade 6 spelling bee words are carefully selected vocabulary terms appropriate for students aged 11-12 years. Our comprehensive list includes 50 words categorized by difficulty level (easy, medium, and challenging) to support progressive learning and spelling bee preparation.
How can word definitions help with spelling?
Understanding a word's definition provides crucial context that makes spelling more intuitive and memorable. When students know what a word means and how it's used in sentences, they're more likely to remember its correct spelling. Definitions also help distinguish between homophones (words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings), reducing common spelling errors.
Are these Grade 6 words suitable for spelling bee competitions?
They are a good place to practice. Our Grade 6 list is pitched at the vocabulary range typically expected at this grade level and includes pronunciation guides, so working through these 50 words will help with classroom spelling tests and school bees. It is our own list, not an official competition list — for regional and national rounds, use it alongside the official Scripps study material.
What information is included with each word definition?
Every word has a definition and a part of speech, and almost all have a phonetic pronunciation guide with audio. Most also carry an example sentence showing the word in use, and some list synonyms and antonyms where the dictionary provides them. Coverage of those last three varies by word.
How should students use these word definitions for study?
For effective studying, students should: (1) Read the definition to understand the word's meaning, (2) Study the pronunciation guide and practice saying the word aloud, (3) Review the example sentence to see how it's used in context, (4) Cover the word and try to spell it from memory, (5) Use the word in their own original sentences, and (6) Explore the synonyms to build vocabulary connections. Regular practice sessions of 10-15 minutes are more effective than long, infrequent study periods.
What makes Grade 6 vocabulary different from other grade levels?
Grade 6 vocabulary is specifically calibrated for the cognitive and linguistic development of 11-12-year-old students. The words introduce age-appropriate concepts, spelling patterns, and complexity levels that build upon previous grades while preparing students for the next level. Our difficulty categorization (easy, medium, challenging) allows students to progress at their own pace within the grade level.
The Grade 6 Spelling Bee Kit
This definitions page stays free forever. The kit is what comes next — 50 words worked all the way through, 47 printable pages, ready in one download.
- Every word with a definition, example sentence & pronunciation
- Cut-and-go flashcard deck, printed for double-sided flipping
- Trace-and-write, fill-in-the-blank & scramble worksheets + answer key
- Parent/teacher guide with a pronouncer script, tracker & certificate